Modular plastic panels solve two distinct problems in landscaping and residential construction: draining water beneath surfaces with planting and synthetic turf, or creating permeable paving that keeps living grass alive under the weight of vehicles. The choice between a drainage cell panel and a grass paving panel is not a matter of nuance: one drains, the other structures the ground. This comparison of the two MOLTEXO panels helps you decide which one fits your project.
🎯 Choose in 10 seconds
- If you need to drain water beneath synthetic turf, a planted terrace or a residential green roof: go to Drainage cell panel
- If you are building an eco-friendly parking area, a vehicle driveway or a pedestrian path with living grass or decorative gravel: go to Grass paving panel
What to consider before choosing
Before buying, assess these four criteria. They determine whether the panel performs its function or produces puddles or dead grass within a few weeks of installation.
- Main function: drainage or structuring paving: the cell panel creates an open chamber beneath the surface to evacuate water toward lateral drains. The paving panel structures the ground so that vehicles and pedestrians can move over living grass or gravel without compacting the soil. Applying one where the other is needed produces puddles or dead grass.
- Type of top load: the drainage panel (33×33×3 cm) is sized for continuous pedestrian traffic and the weight of green roof substrate. The paving panel (50×50×4 cm) is sized for sedan, SUV and pickup traffic in residential parking, plus continuous pedestrian use.
- Surface material: planting, grass or paving: the drainage panel works under artificial grass, green roof substrate and porous paving bases. The paving panel is filled with soil and sown grass (integrated natural look) or decorative gravel (mineral finish with maximum drainage). Each panel has its scenario.
- Permeability and project drainage: both are permeable, but through different mechanisms: the drainage panel creates channels beneath the surface; the paving panel allows direct infiltration into the subsoil through the grass or gravel fill. The choice depends on the hydraulic behavior the project requires.
Drainage cell panel: chamber beneath the surface
- Open cell structure for water flow beneath the surface
- Tool-free lateral click assembly system
- Structural plastic resistant to the weight of pedestrian traffic
- Adaptable to irregular shapes (cut with saw or shears)
- Compatible with artificial grass and green roofs
- Does not structure the ground for vehicle traffic
- Drainage function (not permeable paving)
Modular plastic drainage cell panel in structural plastic, dimensions 33 × 33 × 3 cm per panel, pack of 8 panels. Designed for residential and commercial synthetic turf bases (terraces, patios, playgrounds, play areas); installation of small and medium green roofs in homes, offices and businesses; perimeter drainage in small retaining walls, large planters and transition zones; bases for porous paving in sustainable projects and residential parking areas.
Grass paving panel (grass paver): structured permeable paving
- Structure distributes vehicle weight while protecting grass roots
- Permeable drainage against puddles through direct infiltration
- Suitable for sedan, SUV and pickup in residential parking
- Modular system with manual perimeter click assembly
- Fill versatility: soil with grass or decorative gravel
- Does not replace a drainage panel on green roofs (different function)
- Calibrated for light vehicles (not heavy industrial equipment)
Eco-friendly paving panel (grass paver) in structural plastic, dimensions 50 × 50 × 4 cm per panel, pack of 8 panels. Designed for eco-friendly residential and commercial parking areas where grass or decorative aggregate is maintained under the weight of vehicles; driveways, pedestrian paths in gardens, parks and pergola areas with a natural aesthetic; golf courses, recreation areas, children's play areas with a firm and draining surface; permeable paving in urban sustainability projects with a drainage approach.
Comparison table
| Feature | Drainage panel | Paving panel |
|---|---|---|
| Main function | Drainage beneath the surface | Structured permeable paving |
| Dimensions | 33 × 33 × 3 cm | 50 × 50 × 4 cm |
| Load supported | Pedestrian traffic and substrate | Light vehicles (sedan, SUV, pickup) |
| Typical fill | Green roof substrate, fine gravel | Soil with grass or decorative gravel |
| Assembly system | Lateral perimeter click | Lateral perimeter click |
| Main application | Green roofs, bases for artificial grass | Eco-friendly parking areas, paths, driveways |
| Permeability | Yes (channeled drainage) | Yes (direct infiltration) |
Use case matrix → recommended product
| If your case is… | Recommended product |
|---|---|
| Base for synthetic turf on a residential terrace without puddles | → Drainage panel |
| Residential green roof with drainage of excess irrigation and rain | → Drainage panel |
| Perimeter drainage in a large planter with heavy substrate | → Drainage panel |
| Base for porous paving in a sustainable project | → Drainage panel |
| Playground with synthetic turf over a draining surface | → Drainage panel |
| Eco-friendly residential parking with living grass under vehicles | → Paving panel |
| Vehicle driveway in a garden with a natural aesthetic | → Paving panel |
| Pedestrian path in a park with stable decorative gravel | → Paving panel |
| Recreation area with a firm and draining surface | → Paving panel |
| Small commercial parking area with an urban sustainability approach | → Paving panel |
Before buying, define two facts: what is on top of the panel (pedestrian traffic with planting, or vehicles over grass/gravel) and what the surface needs (underground drainage or structured paving). The rule of thumb: synthetic turf, planted terrace or green roof → drainage panel (33 cm); eco-friendly parking, driveway or path with vehicles → paving panel (50 cm). Confusing the two panels produces puddles in one or dead grass in the other.
Do not use a drainage panel for vehicle parking. The drainage panel is not sized to support the weight of a sedan or an SUV — it will be crushed and lose the drainage chamber within a few weeks. For eco-friendly parking areas, the only correct option is the structural paving panel. Conversely: using a paving panel as a synthetic turf base on a small terrace is unnecessary oversizing.
All products compared
Frequently asked questions
Can the panels be cut to fit irregular shapes?
Yes. Both panels can be cut with a hand saw, jigsaw or industrial shears to fit curved edges, corners, circular planters and non-rectangular geometries typical of landscaping. The structural plastic allows a clean cut without crumbling.
Does the paving panel withstand the weight of a truck or heavy equipment?
No. The paving panel is calibrated for light vehicles (sedan, SUV, pickup) in residential parking. For truck traffic or heavy equipment, different solutions are needed (geocell with gravel fill over a structural base, concrete paving, etc.) calculated by a structural engineer.
How is the grass kept alive over the paving panel?
The panel structure protects the grass root zone by distributing the weight of vehicles. The grass is sown in the soil that fills the panel cells, and with adequate irrigation it grows and is maintained for years even under regular vehicle traffic in residential parking.
